Life at a Fortune 100 Company

[Cat3C]

I won't say who I fly for, but it is in the Top 50. I can't imagine a better place to work. New equipment, with more on the way. Good pay with outstanding benefits (bonus, real retirement, med, dental, insurance, moving, etc, etc). Very liberal standards on hotels, rstaurant spending. No requirement to show up everyday with your thumb inserted. You can work from home, if you have an outside job. Senior company leadership gives super support to the aviation department and the Av Manager & Chief Pilot are really good guys who look out for the line guys. Our current group of pilots and technicains are great to work with and I know of zero personal conflicts within the department. We have zero turnover and some guys have been with the company 35 years. I have to say I wouldn't have been hired if I didn't fill a very exact set of requirements to fill a side job, so you really have to know someone to get hired at this place. The only down side is some of our destinations, not exactly Club Med. But on the plus side, they sell beer just about everywhere we go. As long as we don't get gobbled up in a buy out, I see myself staying here until I can retire a second time. I count myself very lucky after flying cut rate Part 91 after my military career.

I fly for a Fortune 100 and echo the same comments that Jetdriver mentions. I also know of some privately held companies that do pretty well for themselves. It probably is all over the board in the end. I guess you just have to find that flight department that fits your needs and wants and keep your fingers crossed.

 

[AbOvo]

Thank you guys for the intelligent responses. Other areas of aviation are fairly easy to evaluate based on readily available information. Ultimately it's about the right fit with any position, especially when talking about a corporate career.

 

[hmmm]

Those that have found a decent corporate position. How did you fid it?
Does being an A&P I.A. with jet experience help if you have all the turbine time you need?

.

 

[CapnVegetto]

Finding a F100 job is 150% about knowing somebody. Most of the time once you have the quals, it doesn't much matter because there's about 300 other guys they have resumes for that have the same quals. The only way to stand out is internal recommendations. Getting a job in aviation today is almost completely dependent on internal recommendations.

 

[Fly91]

Finding a F100 job is 150% about knowing somebody. Most of the time once you have the quals, it doesn't much matter because there's about 300 other guys they have resumes for that have the same quals. The only way to stand out is internal recommendations. Getting a job in aviation today is almost completely dependent on internal recommendations.

Thats right. I've been waiting, not trying, to get on with my new company for about 1 year. I say waiting because nobody has left the flight department in 8 years. They got a new jet and I slid in, my friend who has been there for 8 years was just waiting with my resume on the top of the pile. And the plane they bought had a crew with the old owner, but they do not care, they only hire by recommendation from current pilots. One of them was a fat slob though, who canceled flights for a broken clock, so.....
After I interviewed, which was just a couple weeks ago, they asked me to bring on another captain to fly with me, so I brought a friend on (lucky bastard).

 

[hmmm]

Being that you really need to know someone why do they even advertise that they are looking for someone.

I guess the answer doesn't really matter since every company is different at this level.


.

 

[Jetdriver69]

I actually found my job on Monster. I then called the Chief Pilot and asked if the job was still open. My job is more than flying, so there was a very long list of qualifications required for hiring. I got a quick interview and was hired. However, every other pilot at our company was hired with internal recommendations of some sort or another. We have to adhere to strict HR standards for interviewing, but we have total freedom on who we hire.

 

[Fly91]

Being that you really need to know someone why do they even advertise that they are looking for someone.

If its a corporation, they usually advertise publicly in some way or another to keep the Equal Oppurtunity Employment morons off their back.

 

[LegacyDriver]

PM CRJCA, Rumrunnr78 or me about one of the top 16 on that list...

Department got chopped in half like *that* (sound of fingers snapping).

Guys got fired then asked if interested in staying. Those who said yes were told either, "Okay" or "Never mind. Sorry we asked you."

It's a turbulent world. When CEOs change you could be on the street before you see the train coming if you aren't careful (I always see trains coming so my bets are hedged most of the time).

 

[Cat3C]

We went through a CEO change a short time back. Even though we all knew him and he was a big user of the department I still held my breath. CEO's tend to start their own path as soon as possible.

In the end there is nothing that you can do other than always have your resume and credentials up to date and current. Be ready for anything.